Former TMC Minister Finally Walks Free After Lengthy Legal Battle
After spending more than three years behind bars, former TMC minister Partha Chatterjee has been granted release in the high-profile Bengal school recruitment scam case. The special CBI court issued the release order on Monday following the recording of statements from eight witnesses, fulfilling the Supreme Court's condition for his bail.
The court also ordered the release of two other accused individuals - former WBSSC chairperson Subiresh Bhattacharya and former WBSSC adviser Santi Prasad Sinha. This development marks a significant turning point in one of West Bengal's most prominent political corruption cases.
Legal Journey and Supreme Court Conditions
Chatterjee's path to freedom has been marked by multiple legal hurdles. Although the Calcutta High Court granted him conditional bail in September this year, he remained incarcerated due to a Supreme Court mandate requiring the framing of charges and recording of witness statements in his pending cases.
The Supreme Court had initially granted him bail in December 2024, observing that he had been in detention for three years without trial. The bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan had directed the lower court to expedite the trial while imposing strict conditions on Chatterjee's activities post-release.
The release order specifically stated: "As directed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the list of witnesses shortlisted by the Ld. Court... has been examined in totality. Following the spirit of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's Order, the accused persons have been released on bail."
Implementation of Release and Current Status
According to the established procedure, the release order from the special CBI court will be sent to Presidency Jail in Kolkata, where Chatterjee has been lodged. However, since the former minister is currently admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata, the order will be forwarded there for implementation.
Chatterjee's lawyer had already deposited the bail bond of Rs 90,000 as directed by the High Court. Sources indicate that the formal release process is expected to be completed by Tuesday morning, bringing an end to his 39-month incarceration.
Chatterjee's counsel, Biplab Goswami, expressed relief at the development, stating: "It has been a long fight. Whenever he was getting bail from the courts, he was named in another case by the CBI and the ED. The CBI had said that they had some material witnesses and that if Chatterjee is released, it would impact the trial. The eight witnesses' testimony was completed today, and finally, the court issued the release order."
Background of the School Recruitment Scam
The senior Trinamool Congress leader and MLA from Behala West was initially arrested in July 2022 in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam within the education department. He stands accused of facilitating illegal appointments of unqualified candidates as primary school teachers, assistant teachers, and staff members.
The scandal first came to public attention when unsuccessful candidates in the Teachers' Eligibility Test approached the Calcutta High Court. On June 8, 2022, the court ordered a CBI probe into the matter, leading to the filing of an FIR the following day.
The Enforcement Directorate subsequently registered a money-laundering case on June 24, 2022, against several officials of the education department, expanding the scope of investigations into financial irregularities.
Chatterjee's bail conditions include restrictions on working as an MLA, surrendering his passport, submitting his mobile number without changes, cooperating with investigating agencies, and refraining from influencing or speaking to witnesses. The Supreme Court had specifically noted that he should not be appointed to any public office after release but could remain an MLA during the trial's pendency.
